Newsline

UVC Announces Volleyball All-Conference Team

Release Date:

April 12, 2012

Contact:

The Office of Sports Information

(716) 649-7900 ext. 333

ROCHESTER, NY – The United Volleyball Conference announced its 2012 all-conference team with sophomore outside hitter Dave Evans of Stevens Institute of Technology being named the 2012 UVC Player of the Year.

Evans led the Ducks to a 9-2 record and the second seed in this weekend’s UVC Championship. He recorded a .316 hitting percentage in regular season conference play, while averaging 3.6 kills, 1.4 digs, and 0.5 blocks per set. Overall, he is averaging 3.4 kills and 1.6 digs per set.

Sophomore setter Connor Mortland earned first-team honors after leading New York University to an undefeated conference record in its first season in the UVC. He led all players, averaging 11.4 assists per set and added 2.1 digs per set.

Senior right side Nick Johnson and junior middle blocker Erin Kelly of Medaille College each repeated as first-team all-conference selections. Johnson, the 2011 UVC Player of the Year, hit .329 in conference play and averaged 3.5 kills per set. Kelly posted a .389 hitting percentage, while averaging 2.8 kills and 0.9 blocks per set.

Senior outside hitter Billy Gimello and junior setter EJ Wells-Spicer of Nazareth College also repeated as first-team all-conference choices. Gimello averaged 3.0 kills and 0.9 digs per set in regular season UVC play, while Wells-Spicer all setters with 404 assists (10.4 per set) and averaged 1.2 digs per set.

Junior middle hitter Matt Elgin of Vassar College was named to the first team after averaging 3.2 kills and 1.2 blocks per set in conference action. He led UVC hitters with a .411 hitting percentage.

Junior libero Christian LaDu of Vassar was chosen as UVC Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year. He averaged 2.4 digs per set in conference play.

Freshman opposite Ian Tyger of Stevens was named UVC Rookie of the Year. He hit .283 in conference play and averaged 2.6 kills, 1.2 digs, and 0.9 blocks per set.

Jose Pina was selected as UVC Coach of the Year for leading NYU to an undefeated regular in regular season conference play and the top seed in the championship tournament.

United Volleyball Conference 2012 All-Conference Awards

Player of the Year: Dave Evans, Stevens Institute of Technology

Libero/Defensive Specialist of the Year: Christian LaDu, Vassar College

Rookie of the Year: Ian Tyger, Stevens Institute of Technology

Coach of the Year: Jose Pina, New York University

First Team

Name Yr. Position School

Matt Elgin Jr. MH Vassar College

Dave Evans So. OH Stevens Institute of Technology

Billy Gimello Sr. OH Nazareth College

Nick Johnson Sr. RS Medaille College

Erin Kelly Jr. MB Medaille College

Connor Mortland So. S New York University

EJ Wells-Spicer Jr. S Nazareth College

Second Team

Name Yr. Position School

Nick Capriccio So. MB New York University

Pat Dodd Sr. OH New York University

Tyler Fauntlerot Jr. OH New York University

Tom Hannum Jr. OH Stevens Institute of Technology

Rob Kraft Jr. MB Nazareth College

Mike Van Tyne Sr. OPP SUNY New Paltz

Michael Vellutato So. S Elmira College

Honorable Mention

Name Yr. Position School

Kevin Aeckerle Fr. S Stevens Institute of Technology

Trevor Barrett So. OH Medaille College
Nick Chan Sr. OH Bard College

Ryan Gelenitis So. OH Elmira College

Jay Hayes Sr. L New York University

John Konow Jr. S Vassar College

Christian LaDu Jr. L Vassar College

Ryan Meller Sr. OH SUNY IT

Ryan Seifert So. OH Stevens Institute of Technology

Chris Temple Jr. OPP D’Youville College

Ellis Walsh Sr. RS Nazareth College

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